Kari Watkins: Guest Lecture Monday 12 November 2012

Kari Watkins: Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology will address the class on on Monday November 12 2012 concerning Real Time Transit Information. 

Dr. Watkins hold a PhD from the University of Washington. 
Click here for a copy of the lecture notes for the class. 

Doctor Kari Watkins at CNAM

Student Debate: Paris Congestion Zone: Monday 12 November 2012

Central London's Congestion Charge Zone

Since 2003 the City of London has had a novel program to reduce automobile congestion in the center of the city. 

London congestion charge is a fee charged on most motor vehicles operating in central London between 07:00 and 18:00 (Monday-Friday only).  The zone is the largest congestion zones in the world

• Standard charge is £10 per day
• Reduced rates for many classes of travelers
• Penalty of £60 to £187 levied for non-payment.
• Enforced with automatic number plate recognition

London Impacts

• Traffic - The number vehicles in Central London reduced by 30% (primarily cars) with increases in the numbers of taxis, buses, and especially bicycles. (2007)
• Traffic Speeds - Up 30% (2007)
• Road Safety - 40 to 70 fewer automobile injuries per year
• Air Quality - No measureable impact. “It is difficult to identify significant air quality improvements from a specific program—especially one targeted at a small area within a large city—against broader regional pollution and weather changes.“
• Click here for more information

Debate Proposition

In order to reduce traffic congestion, improve quality of life, encourage more sustainable transport and improve safety,  the City of Paris should implement a Congestion Charge Zone covering Arrondissenments 1 through 8.

For the affirmative:

Romain, Slyvain, Alexandra, Antonio

For the negative

Nordine, Roland, Mockhorty

Student Debate: Tuesday 30 October 2012 1:15 pm

Proposition:

The priority of every government is the overall economic well-being of the nation.  Matters relating to the environment, social equity and quality of life are secondary.

For the Negative 

Fortun, Roland, Mockhorty, Antonio

For the Affirmative

Sylvain, Nardine, Alex

Syllabus for Autumn 2012 (Updated November 14 2012)

Class	Topic(s)	Readings and Assignment
1 Oct 16 am	Review, Renewal and Update APTA Rail Dallas Honolulu Rail Transit South Florida	Every student will make a 3 to 5 minute presentation describing up to three highlights the life during the period covering June, July, August, and September 2012. Did you make any trips? Did you have a job? Did anything interesting change in your life?
2 Oct 16 pm	Fighting Climate Change: Financing Transport Investments with Carbon Credits	The Use of Carbon Credit Mechanisms to Finance Transportation Improvements in the Developing World Nels O. Nelson, Horn of Africa Regional Environmental Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia David O. Nelson, Jacobs Engineering Group Boston Massachusetts USA Eline Bakker Kruijne, Independent Researcher, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia For presentation at CODATU XV: “The Role of Urban Mobility in (Re)Shaping Cities”  African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  Tuesday 24 October 2012
3 & 4 Oct 19	Microeconomics for Transportation Managers Opportunity Costs  Supply and Demand	View http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT7VDPrQwIc&feature=related
5 Oct 29 pm	Transport Challenges of Less Developed Nations	Highlights from CODATU XV View http://www.codatu.org/english/
6 Oct 30 am	Microeconomics for Transportation Managers The Market System	None
7 Oct 30 pm	Transfers: Scheduling for Connections	David O. Nelson and Tara Blakey “Regional Rail: Scheduling for Connections” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies Washington DC Volume 2112 pp: 77-85 Year 2009 Student Debate: Proposition: The priority of every government is the overall economic well-being of the nation.  Matters relating to the environment, social equity and quality of life are secondary.
8 Nov 6 Am	Microeconomics for Transportation Managers Elasticity	None
9 Nov 6 pm	Travel Demand Analysis	Chapter 1 of “Introduction to Urban Travel Demand Forecasting”   available at: http://www.transnow.org/files/final-reports/TNW2001-01.pdf
10  Nov 9 am 11  Nov 9  pm	Microeconomics for Transportation Managers Consumer Choice Florida East Coast Transit Workshop	None View http://www.sfeccstudy.com/
12 Nov 12 am	"Guest Lecture" on "Real Time Travel Information"  Professor Kari Watkins Georgia Institute of Technology.	Student Debate In order to reduce traffic congestion, improve quality of life, encourage more sustainable transport and improve safety,  the City of Paris should implement a Congestion Charge Zone covering Arrondissenments 1 through 8. For the affirmative: Romain, Nordine, Alexandra, For the negative Sylvain, Roland, Antonio, Mockhorty
13 Nov 15 am	Technological Innovation, Costs and Production, Profit Maximization and Student Debate	Student Debate Paris should eliminate all fares on the RATP Metro and Bus networks, the RER and the Transilien rail services to promote social equality, human welfare and environmental goals.   For the Affirmative Roland, Nordine, Mockhorty For the Negative Sylvain, Romain, Alexandra, and Antonio For background review Jennifer S. Perone, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FARE-FREETRANSIT POLICY,  NCTR Report Number: NCTR-473-133, BC137-38  Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida October 2002

2012 Fall Schedule of Classes

Transport Management and Operations: English Conversation will be returning to Paris 16 October 2012 for 13 classes.  Click Here for Schedule Details

The Use of Carbon Credit Mechanisms to Finance Transportation Improvements in the Developing World

The United Nation’s Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.  It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. 

After 10 years of operation the program lists 4,372 active projects and claims 11 billion tonnes of current and future carbon emission reductions (ERs), making it the world’s largest generator of carbon offset credits.   A wide range of projects qualify through more than 150 methodologies approved to quantify the carbon reductions.  Of the 4,372 registered projects, 16 projects are identified in the transport sector, generating 49 million total current and future tonnes of carbon credits and an estimated 403 million euros of funding for the project development.

This paper by David Nelson, Nels Nelson and Eline Bakker to presented at CODATU XV: “The Role of Urban Mobility in (Re)Shaping Cities”  (African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  Tuesday 24 October 2012) provides some background on the CDM program, then reviews the 19 approved methodologies and 16 accredited transport projects that comprise the program.  Registered projects include Bus Rapid Transit investments, Metros, freight initiatives and an alternative fuels project.  The paper focuses on the quantified emissions impacts to demonstrate the range of outcomes that have been, and can be, financed with carbon credits.  The authors then discuss factors that may be contributing to the relatively thin participation of the transport sector in CDM finance and suggest strategies to possibly enhance transport participation in the program. 

Click Here for more information. 

Very interesting and detailed maps of urban passenger railways in France and other nations.

My Parisian friends may spend hours perusing these maps.
Click Here to get started.